CELTA Course Dates & Fees Johannesburg

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Recommended Reading for CELTA Courses

Practical English Usage

As I was preparing to take the TEFL course to teach abroad and inquiring about the different books that the school was suggesting, I was told simply by my son who is also a teacher and the statement was confirmed by both my instructors, "just buy Swan, it's the bible and it's all you need". Practical English Usage is just that. For whatever reason Michael Swan decided to write this book, we are forever grateful. - Margaret M. Frye 5/5

Learning Teaching

"Learning Teaching" has been one of the most successful guides to English since it was first published in 1994. Its no-nonsense approach has made it a superb teaching textbook for initial training courses, and also an essential handbook for practising ELT teachers. The third edition has been extensively revised and restructured to take recent developments in ELT into account and now includes a DVD featuring a full lesson being taught as well as demonstrations of practical teaching techniques.

A Concise Grammar for English Teachers

I used Tony Penston's book when I was learning how to teach English as a Foreign Language. I found it really useful then and I still carry it with me for all teaching assignments - and I regularly refer to it for some grammatical point or other. It's easy to find what you want and nice and concise! It gets straight to the point. Apparently he's even got a sense of humour too, rarely seen in a grammarian, and a relief to this user. This really good book is useful for all teaching levels. Great value too. I do not hesitate to recommend it to all English language teachers. - John Osman 5/5

CELTA Course Introduction

CELTA is an initial qualification for people with little or no previous teaching experience and opens up a whole world of exciting teaching opportunities. Because it is awarded by Cambridge English Language Assessment, part of the world-famous University of Cambridge, you can rely on its quality and recognition. Over 10,000 people successfully complete a CELTA course each year.

CELTA is "the" TEFL qualification because of the following:

It is the most frequently sought after qualification for TEFL jobs worldwide.

Moderated by the University of Cambridge every time a course runs, not just on an occasional basis

It is recognised as a Level 5 Qualification by the British Curriculum Authority, so it follows an authorised syllabus

There are five main units of learning:

Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context

Language analysis and awareness

Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing

Planning and resources for different contexts

Developing teaching skills and professionalism.

How does CELTA relate to TEFL/TESOL?

‘TEFL’ or ‘TESOL’ are terms often used to describe qualifications for English Language teachers. CELTA, the most widely taken initial TESOL/TEFL qualification of its kind in the world, was previously known as CTEFLA and the ‘RSA certificate’.

There is no such thing as "the TESL certificate" just as there is no such thing as "the B.A.". There are several kinds of TESL/TEFL/TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificates offered by many institutions. CELTA is one of those certificates. CELTA is an ELT (English Language Teaching) certificate, which encompasses TESL and TEFL. It is the most widely recognised and respected international pre-service certificate offered in Ireland and in the world.

Who is CELTA for?

People who want to work in Further, Adult and Community Education.

Can I do the course if English is not my first language?

Yes, your English needs to be of a near-native level. This means that you need to have a command of English that allows you to complete all written assignments and teaching practice requirements to the University of Cambridge standards.

Do I need teaching experience to take the CELTA?

No. Prior teaching experience is not a necessary prerequisite to being accepted onto a CELTA course.

What does CELTA involve?

The one month intensive CELTA course provides an initial training for those new to the profession and also for those teachers with experience but with little formal training. The course is designed to enable candidates to:

Develop an awareness of language and a knowledge of the description of English and apply these in professional practice.

Develop an initial understanding of the contexts within which adults learn English, their motivations and the roles of the teacher and the learner.

Develop familiarity with the principles and practice of effective teaching to adult learners of English.

Develop basic skills for teaching adults in the language classroom.

Develop familiarity with appropriate resources and materials for use with adult learners of English for teaching, testing and referencing.

Identify opportunities for their own future development in the field.

It is a very practical course, which combines both input and teaching practice.

How is the CELTA Course Assessed?

To be awarded the certificate you must pass both components. There are three grades — Pass, Pass ‘B’ and Pass ‘A’.

The assessment of CELTA is continuous and integrated. There is no final exam.

The candidates are assessed primarily in the areas of:

Teaching practice (each assessed lesson is given a grade)

Written assignments

The CELTA course also takes into consideration various aspects of professionalism and professional development.

These include:

Responsible and professional attitude to learning

Responsible and professional attitude to planning and teaching of your lessons

Punctuality and organisation

Willingness to respond to feedback and adjust your own teaching appropriately

Overall progress and professionalism in the field

CELTA Certificate

The CELTA certificate is awarded to candidates who satisfy all assessment criteria and complete all course requirements.

These include:

Attendance of 100% of the course

Completion of all teaching practice and observations of experienced teachers

Completion of all four assignments (three or more assessed as ‘Pass’)

The grades of the certificate are Pass, Pass B (above standard teaching) or Pass A (exceptional language awareness, teaching and professionalism).

Candidates who successfully complete the course, receive both the Cambridge CELTA certificate and a report/letter from the trainers at the Centre in South Africa. The letter describes the candidate’s performance in some detail and serves as a useful reference for employment

I've heard that CELTA is really hard. Why is this?

CELTA is not hard in the sense that the material is difficult to understand. The course is often considered difficult because it is very intensive and there are many deadlines to meet in the space of a month (or 16 weeks in its extensive form).

When taken intensively, it is a full-time commitment for 4 weeks. Evenings and weekends are devoted to completing assignments and preparing lessons for teaching practice.

Time management skills are very important to success on this course. Furthermore, assessment is continuous. Each day there is a 2-hour teaching practice with real students drawn from the community. During that time, you have to put into practice what you have learned.

The teaching practice is assessed by one of the course tutors and you are given written and oral feedback from your tutors and peers.

Who recognises CELTA?

CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers.

Cambridge English Language Assessment also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally.

Employment as an English Teacher after the Course

job contacts: addresses of major recruiters of ELT teachers worldwide.

Find a TEFL Job Post CELTA

As a StudyCELTA trainee, you will be able to sign up for free to our TEFL jobs website www.teflwork.com. TEFLwork is a platform only for qualified English teachers and will allow you to find work both at home and abroad with your newly gained CELTA certificate.

CELTA Course Entry Criteria

To be accepted for the CELTA course in Johannesburg, applicants ideally should:

Have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education

Be aged 18 or over

Have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a range of levels. If you are not a native speaker you should have an international certification about your command of the language at C1 level (CAE, IELTS band 7.5 or equivalent)

Centres may still accept you if you do not have formal qualifications at this level but can demonstrate that you would be likely to complete the course successfully.

Can I do the course if English is not my first language?

Yes, your English needs to be of a near-native level. This means that you need to have a command of English that allows you to complete all written assignments and teaching practice requirements to the University of Cambridge standards.

Do I need teaching experience to take the CELTA?

No. Prior teaching experience is not a necessary prerequisite to being accepted onto a CELTA course.

Do you have to know a lot about grammar?

Knowing grammar is definitely beneficial for being an English teacher, but it is not necessary to know everything about grammar to take the CELTA. Key concepts like subject, verb, and verb tense are good to know.

Pre course material will be sent to you on being accepted to start orientating you toward what you need to know

You will go over some key grammatical concepts during the course and also be exposed to resources for future teaching.

How to Apply for the CELTA in Johannesburg, South Africa

If you believe you meet the requirements to do the CELTA course, fill in our online application. After completing your application and any necessary pre-interview tasks you will be invited to an interview which can be conducted in person, by telephone or via Skype.

Please note: Your place is not confirmed on a course until you have been accepted and have paid a non-refundable deposit.

Unsure if you are Eligible to Apply for CELTA?

How to Pay

Having been offered a place on the course the school will inform you of payment options. A deposit of ZAR 5,000 is required immediately to secure a place with the remainder due four weeks before the starting date.

Conditions of Enrolment

Selection Criteria, Assessment and Grades

The CELTA is a Pass/Fail course, and if the candidate receives a 'Fail' grade or withdraws, the result cannot be changed, and that the course fee will not be refunded.

The CELTA centre in requires 100% class attendance, in addition to work outside of scheduled contact hours. As a result, absences, tardiness, incomplete or late assignments may compromise grades on the course.

Information disclosed in the application must be complete and accurate, including any circumstances that may affect performance on the course.